THE STATE’S health services are fully prepared to deal with the eventuality of an outbreak of H1N1 in Cyprus, they said yesterday following news that Greece had recorded its first case on Monday.
The assurance was given by Health Ministry infectious diseases specialist Dr Chrystalla Hadjianastasiou at yesterday’s H1N1 news briefing following the publication of the incidence of the new virus in Greece.
On Monday a 19-year-old Greek American student was diagnosed with a mild form of H1N1 in Athens following a recent visit to the United States. The teen’s prognosis is good and he has been put in isolation for a week.
Hadjianastasiou said the outbreak in Greece had no impact on Cyprus’ readiness to deal with H1N1 locally. She said the same measures that had been in place since the virus first made an appearance continued to apply at both airports and state hospitals.
The infectious disease specialist added that the island was close to having its own laboratory to carry out analyses on suspect cases. At present any suspect samples would have to be sent to Greece for screening.
She also said the remaining antiviral drugs which the ministry had ordered to increase its own stocks to cover 10 per cent of the population in light of a pandemic were due to arrive shortly.
Hadjianastasiou also confirmed there had been an informal meeting with the occupied areas regarding H1N1.
Both sides agreed to keep the other informed regarding any developments so that in light of an outbreak its spread could be more easily brought under control.
During the briefing reporters were told there had been two new confirmed cases of H1N1 in Europe in the past 24 hours, raising the number of confirmed cases around the world to 9,798.
The number of cases in Europe has reached 265 but there has been no systematic human-to-human transmission, the ministry said. All 265 cases have been mild and none were fatal. The total number of fatalities around the world has risen to 79.
The Health Ministry said it was it in continuous contact with all international bodies involved with H1N1. Travellers returning from affected countries with flu symptoms should seek medical attention within seven days.
Antiviral drugs should only be taken with a doctor’s prescription, reminded the ministry.
A helpline to take questions from the public regarding H1N1 continues to operate daily from 8am to 5pm on 22784848.
